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Review Article
Online Published: 16 Sep 2025
 


The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Hosam Hadi Awaji, Fahad Saleem Alatawi, Mohammed Akram Alanazi, Majd Nouh Alasmari, Shahad Nouh Alasmari, Lyan Maher Hemed, Tarig Osman Mohamedali, Zahra Gariballa Elshaikh Abdalla, Awadelkarim Adil Awadelkarim, Leena Hassan Elbakheit, Doha Abdelbage Suliman.


Abstract
Depression is a common comorbidity in individuals with chronic health issues, worsening disease burden, and treatment outcomes. Emerging evidence suggested diet plays a role in mental health. This analysis investigated the influence of dietary interventions on depression, synthesizing evidence to evaluate their effectiveness and clinical implications. Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) enrolled in this analysis included overweight or obese adults with chronic conditions who underwent hypocaloric dietary interventions. A Literature search of PubMed, Ovid, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library was conducted. Depression scores were the primary outcome. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis, with heterogeneity evaluated via chi-square and I² statistics. The search yielded 7,588 studies, with six RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria. Sample sizes ranged from 49 to 439 participants, with interventions including hypocaloric diets and behavioral support. Depression assessments utilized validated scales. Meta-analysis revealed a considerable reduction in depression symptoms in the intervention groups (standardized mean difference = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.37 to −0.09, p = 0.001), with no significant heterogeneity (I² = 0%, p = 0.42). Findings support dietary interventions as a strategy for depression management in individuals with chronic conditions. In conclusion, this work provided evidence that hypocaloric diets were linked with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Future large-scale, well-controlled randomized trials are required to optimize dietary approaches for improving mental well-being.9

Key words: Depression, dietary interventions, chronic health conditions, hypocaloric diet, review


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Awaji HH, Alatawi FS, Alanazi MA, Alasmari MN, Alasmari SN, Hemed LM, Mohamedali TO, Abdalla ZGE, Awadelkarim AA, Elbakheit LH, Suliman DA. The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. IJMDC. 2025; 9(8): 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790

Web Style

Awaji HH, Alatawi FS, Alanazi MA, Alasmari MN, Alasmari SN, Hemed LM, Mohamedali TO, Abdalla ZGE, Awadelkarim AA, Elbakheit LH, Suliman DA. The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=270050 [Access: June 24, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Awaji HH, Alatawi FS, Alanazi MA, Alasmari MN, Alasmari SN, Hemed LM, Mohamedali TO, Abdalla ZGE, Awadelkarim AA, Elbakheit LH, Suliman DA. The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. IJMDC. 2025; 9(8): 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Awaji HH, Alatawi FS, Alanazi MA, Alasmari MN, Alasmari SN, Hemed LM, Mohamedali TO, Abdalla ZGE, Awadelkarim AA, Elbakheit LH, Suliman DA. The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. IJMDC. (2025), [cited June 24, 2026]; 9(8): 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


Harvard Style

Awaji, H. H., Alatawi, . F. S., Alanazi, . M. A., Alasmari, . M. N., Alasmari, . S. N., Hemed, . L. M., Mohamedali, . T. O., Abdalla, . Z. G. E., Awadelkarim, . A. A., Elbakheit, . L. H. & Suliman, . D. A. (2025) The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. IJMDC, 9 (8), 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


Turabian Style

Awaji, Hosam Hadi, Fahad Saleem Alatawi, Mohammed Akram Alanazi, Majd Nouh Alasmari, Shahad Nouh Alasmari, Lyan Maher Hemed, Tarig Osman Mohamedali, Zahra Gariballa Elshaikh Abdalla, Awadelkarim Adil Awadelkarim, Leena Hassan Elbakheit, and Doha Abdelbage Suliman. 2025. The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (8), 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


Chicago Style

Awaji, Hosam Hadi, Fahad Saleem Alatawi, Mohammed Akram Alanazi, Majd Nouh Alasmari, Shahad Nouh Alasmari, Lyan Maher Hemed, Tarig Osman Mohamedali, Zahra Gariballa Elshaikh Abdalla, Awadelkarim Adil Awadelkarim, Leena Hassan Elbakheit, and Doha Abdelbage Suliman. "The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Awaji, Hosam Hadi, Fahad Saleem Alatawi, Mohammed Akram Alanazi, Majd Nouh Alasmari, Shahad Nouh Alasmari, Lyan Maher Hemed, Tarig Osman Mohamedali, Zahra Gariballa Elshaikh Abdalla, Awadelkarim Adil Awadelkarim, Leena Hassan Elbakheit, and Doha Abdelbage Suliman. "The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.8 (2025), 1827-1835. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Awaji, H. H., Alatawi, . F. S., Alanazi, . M. A., Alasmari, . M. N., Alasmari, . S. N., Hemed, . L. M., Mohamedali, . T. O., Abdalla, . Z. G. E., Awadelkarim, . A. A., Elbakheit, . L. H. & Suliman, . D. A. (2025) The effect of diet on depression among patients with chronic health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (8), 1827-1835. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1752096790




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